End closure



Jan. 3, 1967 E. GEDDE 3,295,485

END CLOSURE Filed Dec. 50, 1963 INVENTOR. [IQ/K 651205 gM/QQM:

ATTdIQA/fy United States Patent 3,295,485 END CLOSURE Erik Gedde, Park Ridge, 11]., assignor to American Can JCompany, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New ersey Filed Dec. 30, 1963, Ser. No. 334,113 1 Claim. (Cl. 113-121) Thepresent invention relates generally to a metal end closure for a can body and more particularly to a reinforced metal end closure for a can body having one or more relatively long, substantially straight sides.

In the seaming of metal end closures of the type having an outwardly'extending flange and a countersink wall depending therefrom to can bodies having one or more relatively long, substantially straight sides, there exists a problem in that during the conventional double seaming operation there is a tendency for the countersink Wall on the corresponding relatively long, substantially straight sides of the end closure to be considerably deeper than the countersink wall on the shorter sides or on the corners of the end closure. This elongation of the countersink wall is caused by a flowing or displacement of metal from the outwardly extending flange of the end closure into the countersink wall along the relatively long sides of the end closure, and results in a decrease in the length of the end closure double seam hook along these relatively long sides, with a consequent partially unhooked end scam in these areas which is more susceptible to leakage than a fully hooked end seam.

The present invention'solves this problem by preventing the elongation of the countersink wall and the consequent reduction in the length of the double seam hook of the end closure during the double seaming operation. This is accomplished by providing a reinforcing bead on the inner portion of the outwardly extending flange adjacent the upper portion of the countersink wall of the end closure. This reinforcing bead provides a barrier to the flow of metal from the outwardly extending flange into the countersink wall during the double seaming operation, and thus results in a countersink wall of uniform depth throughout the double seam and prevents the reduction in length of the end closure double seam hook to insure a uniform, fully hooked end seam.

In effect, the provision of the reinforcing bead constitutes a preforming of this portion of'the end closure into the shape which it should assume in the finished double scam, the bead being joined to the outwardly extending flange along a sharp radius of curvature which is spaced below the top edge of the end closure and provides a line of bend for the flange to thereby prevent substantial reshaping of the bead during the double seaming operation.

An object of the present invention, therefore, is the provision of a metal end closure for can bodies having one or more relatively long, substantially straight sides which is so constructed as to be uniformly double seamed to the can body.

Another object is the provision of such a metal end closure having an outwardly extending flange and a countersink wall depending therefrom which is so constructed as to prevent irregular elongation of the countersink wall during the double seaming of the end closure to the can body.

A further object of the present invention is to provide such a metal end closure wherein the outwardly extending flange thereof is reinforced adjacent the countersink wall thereof to prevent the flowing of metal from the flange into the countersink wall along the relatively long sides of the end closure during the double seaming thereof to the can body.

Still another object is the provision of a method of double seaming an end closure to a can body having one or more relatively long,-substantially straight sides which meets the other objectives of the invention.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a sealed metal container embodying the end closure of the instant invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along line 22 in FIG. 1;

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view in section of a portion of a conventional end closure prior to the double seaming thereof to a can body;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing a completed double seam along one of the relatively long sides of a container when the conventional end closure of FIG. 3 is utilized;

FIGURE 5 is an elevational view in section of an improved end closure embodying the principles of the instant invention and shown prior to the double seaming thereof to a can body;

FIGURE 6 is an elevational view in section, with parts broken away, showing the improved end closure of FIG. 5 in position on a can body just prior to the double seaming operation; and

FIGURE 7 is an elevational view in section, with parts broken away, showing the relationship of the improved end closure of FIG. 5 and the can body after the first step in the double seaming operation is completed.

As a preferred and exemplary embodiment of the instant invention, FIGURES 1 and 2 illustrate a sealed metal can or container 10 of generally rectangular shape comprising a can body 12 having long sides 14- and short sides 16 and being provided with a conventional side seam 18 disposed in one of the short sides 16. The can body 12 is provided with an easy opening feature in the form of a pair of score lines 20, 22 which preferably extend completely around the periphery of the can body 12. A tearing tongue 24 is formed integral with the removable area defined by the score lines 20, 22 to facilitate the tearing of the removable area from the can body 12 and to provide for easy opening of the can 10.

End closures 26 constructed according to the principles of the instant invention and having a shape substantially the same as that of the can body 12 are secured to the upper and lower ends thereof in conventional double seams 28. Each of the seamed end closures 26 is identical in construction and comprises a depressed central panel 30 which merges with an upwardly extending countersink wall 32 that in turn merges at a curved upper portion 34 with a hook portion 36 (see FIG. 2). The can body 12 is provided with a hook portion 38 which interlocks with the end closure hook portion 36 in the conventional double seam 28. A conventional sealing compound 40 is provided in the double seam 28 between the end closure 26 and the can body 12 to provide a hermetically sealed double seam 28.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, there is shown a conventional end closure 26a in its form prior to being double seamed to a can body. The end closure 26a comprises a recessed central panel 30a which merges at its outer end portion with a substantially vertical countersink wall 32a which in turn merges at its upper portion with an outwardly extending flange 42a. The outer portion of the flange 42a is provided with a hook portion 36a which forms a part of the double seam when the end closure 26a is seamed to a can body, and the undersurface of the flange 42a is coated with a conventional sealing compound 40a.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the conventional end closure 26a is double seamed in a conventional manner to a can body 12a of substantially the same construction as the can body 12 of FIG. 1, the countersink wall 32a of the end closure 26a is elongated throughout the portions thereof adjacent the relatively long, substantially straight sides 14a of the can body 12a. It has been discovered that this elongation of the countersink wall 32a results from a flowing or backing-up of metal from the outwardly extending flange 42a into the countersink wall 32a during the conventional double seaming operation under the influence of the inward pressure applied by the seaming rollers. This resultant elongation of the countersink wall 32a results in a reduced or shortened end closure hook 36a (see FIG. 4) and thus provides partially .unhooked portions of the double seam 28a adjacent the relatively long sides 14a of the can body 12a. When the conventional end closure 26a of FIG. 3 is utilized with a can body 12a having relatively long, substantially straight sides 14a, therefore, the double seam 28a between the end closure 26a and the can body 12a is imperfect, owing to the partially unhooked portions thereof adjacent the relatively long sides 14a of the can body '12a, with the result that the double seam 28a is more susceptible to leakage than a fully hooked or uniform double seam.

The improved end closure 26 of the instant-invention, as shown in FIG. 5, is constructed to prevent the flowing of metal into the countersink wall 32 thereof during the double seaming operation and thus is seamed to the container body 12 in a uniform, fully hooked double seam 28, as shown in FIG. 2. The outwardly extending flange 42 of the end closure 26 is provided with a continuous, raised or upwardly extending reinforcing bead or rib 44 on the inner portion thereof adjacent the countersink wall 32. The reinforcing bead 44 provides a barrier to the flow of metal from the outwardly extending flange 42 into the countersink wall 32 adjacent the relatively long sides 14 of the can body 12 when the flange 42 is forced downwardly and inwardly during the double seaming operation. The reinforcing head 44, therefore, prevents the elongation of the countersink wall 32 during the double seaming operation and thus prevents reduction in the length of the hook portion 36 of the end closure 26 to insure a fully hooked and uniform double seam 28.

-In the seaming of the improved end closure 26 to the can body 12, the end closure 26 is first positioned on the can body 12 in the manner shown in FIG. 6, wherein the countersink wall 32 and the central panel 30 are disposed within the can body 12 and the outwardly extending flange 42 is supported by an outwardly flared portion or flange 46 on the upper portion of the can body 12. The end closure flange 42 and the can body flange 46 are then interlocking forced downwardly and inwardly in a conventional two-step double seaming operation (not shown).

The relationship of the improved end closure 26 and the can body 12 after the first step of the double seaming operation is completed is shown in FIG. 7 wherein the end closure and can body are interlocked in a loose preliminary double seam. During the first step of the double seaming operation, there is substantially no elongation of the countersink wall 32 of the improved end closure 26, since metal is prevented from flowing from the flange 42 into the countersink wall 32 by the reinforcing head 44. When the flange 42 is subjected to a downward and inward force during the double seaming operation, the head 44 remains substantially intact to comprise the upper part of the double seam and the flange 42 is bent downwardly and inwardly along a substantially horizontal hinge line 48 which is disposed at the junction of the bead 44 and the flange 42. Since there is no flowing of metal from the end flange 42 into the countersink wall 32 during the double seaming operation, there is no decrease in the length of the hook portion 36 on the improved end closure 26 as clearly seen in FIG. 7.

The resulting loose preliminary end seam of FIG. 7 between the improved end closure 26 and can body 12 then is tightened and formed into the finished, fully hooked and uniform double seam 28 of FIG. 2 during the second step of the conventional double seaming operation, wherein the bead 44 comprises the curved upper upper end of the body 12 is spaced a considerable distance below the compound 40 which is disposed inthe bead 44, the initial gap therebetween is gradually elimi-.

nated as the seaming operation proceeds, so that when the final seam has been completed, as seen in FIG. 2, the upper end of the body 12 is pushed into the bead 44 and into contact with the compound 40 located therein.

While the improved end closure 26 of the instant invention has been disclosed herein for use on a substantially rectangular can body 12, it is noted that the instant end.

closure 26 may be used with a can body of any shape which comprises one or more sides of a length sufiicient to result in a flowing of metal from the end closure flange into the countersink -wall during a double seaming operation. Also, it is within the scope of the instant invention to provide a reinforcing bead in the end closure flange only in the portions thereof which are adjacent relatively long sides of the can body instead of utilizing the continuous head 44 disclosed herein.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a.

preferred embodiment thereof.

1 claim:

A method of securing a metal end closure to a rectangular can body having a laterally outwardly extending flange at one end thereof, the end closure comprising a countersink wall and a flange extending generally lateral: ly outwardly therefrom comprising the steps of:

forming a continuous raised bead in said end closure flange adjacent said countersink wall, positioning said end closure on said one end of the can body with said countersink wall disposed within and in contact with the can body and said end closure flange disposed over and closely adjacent to the can body flange, and I forcing said said end closure flange downwardly and inwardly against said can body flange along a hinge line disposed at the junction of said'end closure flange and said bead to form said end closure flange, said bead and said can body flange into a double seam between the end closure and the can body (References on following page) 5 References Cited by the Examiner 2,455,737

UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1922 Gasset 220-49 2739732 10/1928 Pickles 113 120 X 5 3:139:211

2/ 1938 Bogner. 3/1942 Bogner 22049 Coyle 113-120 Kinney 113120 X Ayres 22067 Bogner 220-49 Bogner 220--48 THERON F. CONDON, Primary Examiner. 

